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Saturday, February 21, 2009

I loved, loved, loved the movie.That being said, my first draft of this post was almost nothing more than a rant about Proposition 8 (an anti-gay rights proposition recently passed in California) and those who supported it (a religious organization I used to be affiliated with).Perhaps, one day, I'll get back to sharing my thoughts on Gus Van Zant's incredibly moving and socially poignant film.But today, I'm too mad.

To be fair, what about the minority voters who supported the measure? (Notice that Obama won handily in California, while Prop 8 passed...it wasn't just Bible-thumpers who voted for it). I have no problem with gay marriage and I'm sure I would have voted against Prop 8 if I lived in California, but I think you're making the situation seem more clear-cut than it actually is: to consign all of the measure's opponents to the level of "Prop. 8 bigots" is a mistake, particularly since civil unions already exist and are presumably supported by some of the marriage opponents (incidentally, how do you feel about Obama who has hedged here - declaring himself opposed to Prop 8 but also to gay marriage? Is he a bigot too).

And speaking of the president I also have to disagree with Tommy vis a vis the presumed effectiveness of anger (if that's what he's implying)...as Obama showed, in this day and age (which is not to say in ALL days and ages) the judicious restraint of temper is going to get you a lot further (and is less likely to alienate the uncertain) than sheer anger. Though, then again, you are not running for office (presumably) so why hold back?

Anyway, I liked Milk too, and though it's come under fire for being too "conventional" I actually thought it had some adventurous aspects, especially in the early sections of the film. And I really appreciated the fact that it opened in media res so to speak, with Harvey on the eve of his 40th birthday, feeling repressed and frustrated with his life so far. Our imagination is allowed to fill in what came before to make him feel this way, and to underscore the changes he will then go through.

MovieMan0283 - I'm also upset about the minority voters who supported Prop 8 but my anger comes from the close, extremely personal proximity of the Mormon Church's involvement in the campaign.

Gay rights seems like a no-brainer to me but to see my friends, family, childhood role-models, church leaders, etc. all go against gay rights so fiercely hurt me bad.

The church raised 77% of the total funds towards the passing of Prop. 8. They did so by setting up call centers (in states other than California) and asked members to give their money (on top of their 10% tithing) to ban gay marriage...and they did it. So while it wasn't just Bible-thumpers who voted for it, it was the Book of Mormon thumpers that played such a huge part in my formative years that did. Without the tireless fighting of the Mormons, Prop 8 most likely would not have passed.